exceptional
Americanadjective
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forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary.
The warm weather was exceptional for January.
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unusually excellent; superior.
an exceptional violinist.
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Education. (of a child)
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being intellectually gifted.
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being physically or especially mentally disabled to an extent that special schooling is required.
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adjective
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forming an exception; not ordinary
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having much more than average intelligence, ability, or skill
Synonym Usage
See irregular.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exceptional
Explanation
Generally, exceptional is a compliment––"the concert was exceptional" means it was better than what could have been expected. But it can also just mean unusual. "Maria gets to skip gym, but hers is an exceptional case." Exceptional begins with the Latin prefix ex- 'out,' because something exceptional stands out in some way. In certain cases, exceptional can mean under-performing. Children with special educational needs are sometimes referred to in this way, as exceptional or special.
Vocabulary lists containing exceptional
Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"
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Between the World and Me
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Because of Mr. Terupt
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s about owning exceptional businesses for long periods and allowing time, not market timing, to do the heavy lifting.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
“I am excited to get to work supporting the city’s long-term fiscal sustainability, preparing for sea level rise, and building a strong organization that delivers exceptional service.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Countries involved are able to suspend EES under exceptional circumstances.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Most showed no exceptional ability in this range.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026
What he didn’t know was whether California had something even more exceptional, as Ky Ebright seemed to be hinting in the press.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
